Gap closer



Jun 21, 1949. plERRE 2,473,975

GAP CLOSER Filed Jan. 17, 1948 Flax l m /9 1 r" l 5 j, I; c o l 5 2-- L- I i Patented June 21 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAP CLOSER Application January 17, 1948, Serial No. 2,831

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in means for closing the gap in the latch ring of a circular, independent needle, knitting machine. The form of the invention selected for illustration and description herein is suitable for use in a circular, independent needle, knitting machine of the Banner type but the invention is not limited to the form shown or to use in that type of machine. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the carrier ring and latch ring of a Banner type machine which also shows a number of yarn levers operating through a gap in a latch ring which gap is equipped with the closer of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation illustrating a portion of a carrier ring the gap therein and the gap closer of this invention in its normal position;

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the manner in which a yarn lever is able to pass the gap closer; and

Fig. 4 is a view showing yarn levers in various positions and their relation to the gap closer.

As shown in Fig. 1, the carrier ring of the machine selected for description is provided with three gaps, two of which appear at I and 2 and the third of which is concealed by the yarn levers 4 and is crossed by the gap closer generally designated by 5, 6. This gap is shown at 3 in Fig. 2. As best shown in Fig. 2, the gap closer consists of two similar wedge-shaped opposed members I and 8 pivoted as at 9 and I9,

respectively, each having an offset extension H or l2, respectively, connecting to a spring 13 or I4, respectively, whereby the apexes of the wedgeshaped members are normally held in yielding contact. As is well known, the yarn levers 4 swing is.

in a vertical plane in an arc which crosses the space occupied by the gap closer 5, 6. During this passage when a yarn lever strikes one or both of the members 1 and 8 either when going into or coming out of action, the wedge-shaped members will separate sufliciently to permit the lever to pass by and will then immediately move into contact again. This movement is facilitated by the sloping surfaces l5, l6, l1 and N3 of elements '5 and 8. The nature of this movement for one of the yarn levers is shown in Fig. 3.

As will be realized by those skilled in the art, such a gap closer must be as close as possible to the inner face of the latch ring so that when in action it will imitate as nearly as possible the curvature of the ring on either side of the gap. Therefore the latch ring and carrier ring are recessed as best shown at IS in Fig. 1 and the members I and 3 are positioned in this recess.

It should be noted that the movement of the 1 Claim. (Cl. 66112) yarn levers is in a vertical plane and the movement of the gap closer members is substantially horizontal so that the passage of a yarn lever is effected with a minimum of displacement of the members for a minimum of time.

It should also be noted that each member 1 and 8 acts as a resilient stop for the other member so that vibration is prevented. When the two members snap back into contact after the passage of a yarn lever either one can yield without losing contact with its mate until equilibrium is restored which will be effected practically instantaneously and without chattering through the resistance of each member to opposed movement by the other. Furthermore, the maintenance of contact between the members 1 and 8 in this way eliminates the nice adjustments which would be necessary if each member had to be confined strictly to its own half of the gap.

In view of the speed at which a circular, knitting machine operates these conditions are essential. The purpose of the device is to complete the latch ring across the gap area so that the positions of such latches as approach the gap will not be permitted to alter during their passage across the gap. For example, during the knitting of the heel and toe, the long butt group of needles is customarily raised sufliciently so that they clear the knitting cams. This usually means that the latches of these needles will be opposed to the latch ring when they pass the gap so that their latches, which are normally kept open by the latch ring, might fly out and close or even be damaged if the gap were left unguarded.

In U. S. Patent #1,244,503, a gap closer is disclosed consisting of two wedge-shaped members the apexes of which are maintained in opposed horizontal alignment by springs but not in 0pposed contact. The yarn carriers pass these members in a similar way by deflecting them sufficiently for the purpose and they spring back to their normal opposed positions immediately after the yarn lever releases them. However, the movement of these members, as well as of the yarn levers, is vertical instead of horizontal with the result that they necessarily remain deflected for the maximum timemuch longer than those of this invention. Also, the movement of each member is wholly independent of the other and is not checked in any way by the other. In other words, each member when it is deflected and then released will vibrate back and forth several times before coming to rest. These characteristics render this device too uncertain for successful use in a modern high-speed circular knitting machine in which the time element is controlling because it is so extremely brief. The horizontal separation of the gap closing members of the present invention reduces the period of separation to the minimum and the facts that the elements normally make opposed contact with each other, move over the shortest possible space and each acts as a resilient stop for the other element avoid the features which render valuelessthe device of the patent referred to.

Although two unclosed gaps I and 2 are shown in Fig. 1, it will be understood, of course, that either or both may be equipped with the gap closer of this invention and that it is applicable to any latch ring or other element for which it is suited. It will also be understood that the term latch ring as used herein refers not only to the type shown herein in which the. latch ring; is a separate piece from the carrier ring but to the corresponding parts of an integral carrier and latch ring and to any equivalent structure.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1.244.503 Jenckes Oct, 30, 1917 

